'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎135v] (275/312)

2U
There is no communication fit for caravans leading pastmvA f * ox.
din. The country is described as very mountainous an^. difficult to” oss^nd
Eou°t”vin) e8 P ^ S ° “ arr ° W tW ° Pe0I,le Cannot P ass ab3 (see
lies 3 feet deep on the Gavvar plain in winter. £ Aprl1 - Snow
By the constant passage of caravans that would ,
drifts these roads might be kept open all the year round 16 P rmci P a *
Roads in the Salmas, Urmia and Sulduz plains renniw» n i. n i
carta are to get through the deep mud when tL thaw loTesIn spring ^ ^
Route No. XIII.—Urmia to Ushnu.
Stages.
Hours
marcliiug.
Dhtas-ce
Intermediate.
IJT MILES,
Total.
Bate per diem in
miles per hour.
Seir Mission House ...
1-8
5-5
55
3-00
Chasimlar ...
5-8
22-0
27-5
3-78
Ushnu
8-5
31-0
58-5
3-65
27th July._General direction S. Left the south gate of the town (4,610'),
and entered an avenue 2 mde wide with a double row of trees on either side.
At 2 miles we forded the Sahar Chai, also known as the Urmia Chai.
AH the ground on the left bank of the river between it and the town is
enclosed by vineyards and orchards, watered by numbers of small canals
The American M.ssion has a large establishment, includin “a choot work.
Si t SrcXgr mons the orchards on the ieft ba - k » £
The missionaries obtained the sanction of the governor of Urmia, and
residence“ far aS Seir ’ which ^ as a summer
The Sahar Chai is now 30 feet wide and 18 inches deep at the ford. In
some dry seasons it is quite dry, all the water being led away for irrigating
the gardens and providing water for the town. J b S
wp pWI 3 fVwf V°A & ^ • Car ^ eroa iwith a gradually ascending gradient,
we reached the Seir American Mission House (5,610'), situated about half way
up the rounded slope of a mountain of the same name, which rises 2 000 feet
higher to the south of it or 7,610 above sea level *
The hillsides are quite bare of trees, but good grazing exists on the unner
slopes round several little springs. g * 6 Pper
The mission house is a large block of buildings, containinc dwelling
ouses, church, school, &c., and is in an enclosure about 200 yards square
surrounded by a high mud wall with loopholed towers at the corners. '
I he water-supply is from two large springs up the hillsides Wheat and
barley grow luxuriantly on the hillside without irrigation.
U? nSti ??7 i T 1 l age of 50 houses adjoining the mission,
j "die down the hill
low ridge, passing Hyderlu, and turning the'hllTfo the right!"’ W<! aSCen * “